Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer made her part of his cabinet. She was state secretary at the Chancellery from 11 January 2007, and then succeeded Doris Bures as Minister for Women, Media and Public Service in July 2008. When the government dissolved in December of the same year after early elections,[2] Silhavy reverted to being a member of parliament until the next election in 2013, when she did not run.[5]